Badgers Montee Ball Is Having a Monster Year

If it wasn’t for the incoming hype of transfer quarterback Russell Wilson, Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball could have been the Heisman candidate coming out of Madison.

The numbers that the junior is producing are absolutely ridiculous. Ball has scored a touchdown in 15 straight games and a total of 39 scores over that span (next highest total in FBS is Bernard Pierce of Temple with 23).

Against the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Ball ran for a career-high 223 yards and rushed for three touchdowns, tying him with former Badgers RB Brian Calhoun (who had 24 in 2005) for the Badgers single-season record for touchdowns.

For his efforts, Ball was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Ball’s ability to find the end-zone isn’t the only area he excels in on the field as Montee has also shown to be a “complete player.”

After becoming the fifteenth Badger to amass the 1,000 yard plateau, Head Coach Bret Bielema had some really nice things to say about his lead back.

“Just from a complete standpoint, obviously the rushing numbers were there, Montee’s complete nature is his ability to be a pass (protector) when he needs to be, his ability to catch the ball and just his mentality. He is wired in a way right now where he expects success on every play and he is extremely physical,” said Bielema.

His success at the college level could translate to the NFL Draft come April. WalterFootball.com has Ball ranked as their third running back overall and projected to go in the late first or second round. As long as Ball continues to score touchdowns, his draft stock keeps rising simultaneously.

What do you think of Montee Ball’s 2011 season? Should he be as Heisman candidate with the amount of touchdowns he scores? Let me know by commenting below!

Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.